Sexting—it's not just for high schoolers anymore.

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The courtroom bailiff for Michigan state judge Wade McCree claims that the judge sent her a shirtless picture of himself by text message. Sound wildly inappropriate? The woman's husband thought so when he found the photos, and he filed a complaint with the state's Judicial Tenure Commission.

A local Fox reporter in Detroit went to Judge McCree and showed him the photo. "Hot dog, yep that's me," said the judge. "I've got no shame in my game. I ain't talked to nobody else's wife."

When the reporter asks the judge (watch the crazy video) whether he sent the photo to other women as well, the judge added, "Oh yeah, I've sent that out to other women, sure."

"And that's alright with your wife?"

"Uh... you know, I mean... There's nothing nude about it. I am in no more clothes than I'll be at the Y this afternoon when I swim my mile."

McCree—also married—comes from a famous legal family. His father, Wade McCree Jr. served as the first African-American judge on the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and in 1977 became the US solicitor general under President Jimmy Carter. At McCree Jr.'s death, a colleague on the Sixth Circuit remembered the judge (PDF) as a towering intellect with a "remarkable memory" whose "ability to recite poetry and song lyrics, both familiar and obscure, was legendary." McCree Jr. even relieved tension among his colleagues with "bits of doggerel" or a "hastily written limerick."

Sexy texting also played a key role in the scandal that brought down Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick back in 2008. In both cases, the use of digital devices meant that the texts and images left the texter's control. While simple communications tech makes affairs, indiscretions, and harassment easier than ever, it also makes them harder to hide in the end.

"This is news that I would expect to find on a tabloid or local newspaper. W(ho)TF cares? If North Americans weren't such prudes, this wouldn't even make the tabloids."

Umm, their relationship is meant to be professional. Since it's Judge-Bailiff, it could be construed as employer-employee. There is absolutely no reason for him to send even a topless only pic to any other employee of the court or municipal building. That this guy is so blase' about it is more than a simple lack of judgement. It's professional malfeasance and indicative of a complete moron.

All kidding aside, one would think since another one of his colleagues was found guilty of thief just today (http://on.freep.com/JHbwcZ)that he would be a little discreet. The public expects better than this, but no...

Umm, their relationship is meant to be professional. Since it's Judge-Bailiff, it could be construed as employer-employee. There is absolutely no reason for him to send even a topless only pic to any other employee of the court or municipal building. That this guy is so blase' about it is more than a simple lack of judgement. It's professional malfeasance and indicative of a complete moron.

its never stated what the social relationship is between the two people. the woman who was sent the picture has never complained as far as we know.

Prosecutor: The accused then commented on the bailiff's bodily structure, made several not-at-all legal remarks on the subject of fun and then placed his robes over his head and began to emit low moans.

This is news that I would expect to find on a tabloid or local newspaper. W(ho)TF cares? If North Americans weren't such prudes, this wouldn't even make the tabloids.

Even if it were just a flattering head shot it could be construed as inappropriate depending on other context. Has he sent any pictures of himself to coworkers he finds unattractive? Has he sent any pictures to coworkers which were not of himself?

It's entirely possible that the transmissions of the images are completely benign, nonthreatening and welcomed by the recipients. It's also possible that every attractive woman he works with has stories to tell of unwelcome advances.

However, I don't think this should be published as news until a complaint is processed.

Do bailiff's work for the judge or for the court in general? That is, is the Judge actually her boss or is it more like being in different departments? Or I suppose on the same team. Regardless, it does seem a bit odd.

Umm, their relationship is meant to be professional. Since it's Judge-Bailiff, it could be construed as employer-employee. There is absolutely no reason for him to send even a topless only pic to any other employee of the court or municipal building. That this guy is so blase' about it is more than a simple lack of judgement. It's professional malfeasance and indicative of a complete moron.

its never stated what the social relationship is between the two people. the woman who was sent the picture has never complained as far as we know.

very one sided. picture looks fairly genial to me as it is.

Sounds like the words of someone who doesn't know what "sexual harassment" is. I'm glad you'll never be working in management.

Not sure, but I thought he was white until I read down into the article.

Yeah I missed that (totally irrelevant) fact too. I did notice he is in way, way better shape than I ever figured any judge would be, so congrats to him on that. Pulling that off with a sedentary occupation isn't easy.

why is it not allowed to have a relationship?i cant find a definition of bailiff that would stipulate who they can and can not see.

It's an unwanted sexual advance from a superior.

where did she complain or say that it was unwanted? nowhere, only the husband who found it on the phone is complaining.

She doesn't even have to... in MA for example, the laws regarding sexual harassment are so strict that even someone else overhearing or witnessing an action they deem offensive, even if it was not directed at them, can land you in trouble.

[edit]

We are required to attend Sexual Harassment training every year at our company... and then we are actually TESTED on it.

One big positive about this is we didn't have to go through a long winded denial, press conferences with the judge's wife standing by her man, then the half admittances. He came out and said he did it. Other politicians should take note.

Let me just toss some fireworks into this thread by asking: how much outrage is a subliminal reaction to almost having to see a black penis?

Wotta maroon! First, the race of this disgrace-to-the-name-of judge isn't clear unless one seeks it out. Second, we didn't "almost" see anything. We saw everything there was to see in the picture, and we didn't see anything more.

Judge McCree is beyond stupid, and his race has nothing to do with it. Why do you ask? Are you a racist?

For some reason this got me thinking of the Monty Python skit involving two judges commenting on the "well hung jury" and "waggled my wig". Everything goes back to Monty Python.

On the legal side, is it a photo that she wanted or not? If he was responding to a request from her, then the only trouble should be between them and their respective spouses (spice?). Obviously if it's unsolicited then he has a little more explaining to do. But it could be worse - it could be a photo of the Fox reporter covering the story.

In the grand scheme of things, as the universe plays itself out through time immemorial, this story......uh, gimme a sec.....I know there was a story here.....Somewhere.....

We can debate "right" or "wrong", "legal" or "illegal", "spiritually bereft" or "what spirit is there to be bereft of", etc. I'd rather just see it as another smile inducing example of how dumb (or perhaps, willfully ignorant) we as a species are capable of being.

And ya gotta wonder what hijinks the Founding Fathers & Mothers would be up to if they'd had 12 megapixels & a blazin' 4G connection to play with.

This is not sexting, it's just a dude being a douche. The context here doesn't have to be sexual and although it is unprofessional, this is more about the dude being an arrogant douche trying to get a reaction from a uncomplaining woman. They could have been talking about her husband's pectorials and how they sag, and the judge could have been like "This is what happens if you tell him to go to the gym, twice or three times a week."

I would admit the same too. He didn't send her a picture of him lounging with his **** in his hands complete with a kissy face.